THE IRISH Coast Guard have released a series of videos illustrating the unpredictable and dangerous nature of breaking waves as a warning to the people of Ireland.
As the country braces itself for Storm Brendan, and after Galway County Council warned of "astronomical tides" in coastal towns, the Irish Coast Guard have repeatedly warned people not to approach breaking waves, and to "Stay Back, Stay High & Stay Dry".
One particularly chilling video, taken in Brittany, France in 2016, shows the strength and speed of a breaking wave as a person is dragged out to sea in the blink of an eye while from the supposed safety of the strand.
As a woman rushes to help, she too is dragged under the waves, with the pair being thrashed by the sea dangerously close to the rocks.
The video ends as a third person is pulled under by the powerful waves-- but thankfully, the ICG say that everyone was safely rescued in the incident.
Breaking waves along the coast can be unpredictable and quickly drag you away.
Do not approach breaking waves. Stay Back, Stay High & Stay Dry! #StormBrendan #IrishCoastGuard
(Everyone was safely rescued in this incident) pic.twitter.com/mkIV35nQ9r— Irish Coast Guard (@IrishCoastGuard) January 13, 2020
As the island battens down the hatches for the approach of Storm Brendan, and with an orange weather warning in place for the entire country, the Coast Guard's warning for people to stay out of the sea might seem unneccessary.
This is not the case however-- the ICG are regularly called to assist people in difficulty in the water during dangerous storms. In October, as Storm Lorenzo thrashed the country, the Coast Guard rescued a man who was was injured after a strong gale blew him into rocks while kitesurfing.
